T here have been some updates in the news pertaining to articles which I have written in the past for The Gate; so let us get right to the stories.
Brussels Airport Remains Closed
Brussels Airport will not reopen to resume flights for passengers before Tuesday, March 29, 2016.
Passenger flights at #brusselsairport will not resume before Tuesday 29 March.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) March 26, 2016
The airport was closed as a result of attacks by terrorists which occurred on the morning of Tuesday, March 22, 2016, killing 34 people and injuring at least 270 others.
Click here for additional official updates from the airport.
Father of Allergic Son Dies
George Alvarado — who was 48 years old and was diagnosed with terminal stage four throat cancer — has died in a hospice facility after succumbing to the disease, according to this article from the Associated Press.
Alvarado was the father of a boy whose severe allergic reaction to a dog — which was present aboard the aircraft operated by Allegiant Air before flight 171 departed for Phoenix — led to the removal of him and his family from the airplane by members of the flight crew. Passengers allegedly cheered, laughed and applauded, which resulted in controversy.
Members of the family were on their way home from a special trip to Bellingham when the incident allegedly occurred on Monday, February 22, 2016, resulting in a delay of the flight. The trip was special because the family simply wanted to vacation in the state of Washington before Alvarado died.
Regardless of the controversy, the family thankfully was able to enjoy one last trip before Alvarado died. My thoughts and condolences are with the surviving members of the family.
Preliminary Decision on New Zealand Flag
Citizens of New Zealand have preliminarily voted to keep its current flag — which is 114 years old and complete with the Union Jack symbol — in a historic referendum which cost approximately $17.6 million. 56.6 percent of those who voted opted to keep the flag; while 43.2 percent of those who voted preferred the new flag with a silver fern emblazoned on it, which was chosen from four finalists for the design to replace the one currently adorning the official flag of New Zealand.
Voter turnout was 67.3 percent, which was calculated by taking the total votes received of 2,124,507 as a percentage of the total number of voters enrolled as of March 3, 2016, which was 3,158,576, according to the electoral commission of New Zealand.
The official result for the second referendum pertaining to the official flag of New Zealand is expected to be declared on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 5:00 in the afternoon.
Even if the voting decision becomes final, that does not rule out further debates pertaining to the future of the official flag.
Free Hotel Night
If you are wondering why I have not yet announced the results of who won the free room night at a category 1 through 5 hotel or resort property of Starwood Preferred Guest, it is because the reader of The Gate who was originally selected as the winner declined the prize due to a schedule change; so I am awaiting word of the reader who was selected next at random…
…so there is still a chance where you might win the prize if the second winner declines it.
Please stay tuned…
Graphic ©2016 by Brian Cohen.
